The rate of spontaneous onset of labour among Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth in NSW fell from 45.9% in 2018 to 42.9% in 2022, while the rate of induction of labour increased slightly from 34.4% to 34.5%. These trends were also found in non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth in NSW, with spontaneous onset of labour decreasing from 43.9% in 2018 to 39.9% in 2022 and induction of labour increasing from 33.7% in 2018 to 35.2% in 2022. The rate of spontaneous onset of labour was slightly higher among NSW Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth (42.9%) compared to the rate of 39.9% reported among non-Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander mothers who gave birth in NSW in 2022.
Labour onset, Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal mothers, NSW 2018–2022
Source: NSW Perinatal Data Collection (SAPHaRI). Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence, NSW Ministry of Health.
Due to under-reporting of Aboriginal mothers to the Perinatal Data Collection, it is likely that the true numbers of mothers and babies are higher than shown. For more information refer to Estimated level of reporting. Table excludes 3,629 mothers where the mother’s Aboriginality was not stated.
